|
Post by ianlp59 on Nov 10, 2014 15:43:08 GMT
Whoever you choose to use, remember that it's all about the packing. A decent, durable hard case is a must, as is providing enough packing within the case to prevent any movement, particularly around the headstock area.
Cheers,
Ian
|
|
|
Post by ianlp59 on Nov 10, 2014 12:41:58 GMT
What?! What?!.... I think a certain email newsletter has recently given your secret away Ian! Keith You are quite correct. I'm getting Ted Åstrand to build me an OM next year... Cheers, Ian
|
|
|
Post by ianlp59 on Nov 7, 2014 15:53:33 GMT
I was just today (by way of diversion tactics) reading an interview with Ralph McTell. He thinks he has about 35 guitars but is not quite sure. He thinks his J45 might just be the best J45 in the world, but he keeps having to buy new ones to make sure. And then he decides to keep them hanging around. He makes Chris Stern and Ian Brown look like piddling amateurs! Speaking of course for myself, I am a piddling amateur. I do probably need serious behavioural therapy though... Cheers, Ian
|
|
|
Post by ianlp59 on Oct 29, 2014 9:05:03 GMT
Sadly not - the build will not start until the middle of 2015. More details will follow then... Cheers, Ian
|
|
|
Post by ianlp59 on Oct 28, 2014 15:57:53 GMT
Martin, I'd go for it if I were you. It depends a bit on if he gives a "hands on" workshop where you have to play along all the time or a more "see how I do it" type. Even if you don't play along you can watch and pick up the techniques to practice at your leisure. I suppose that would be a bit like you teaching us clawhammer banjo techniques as you did so well. If you are worried why not e-mail Kris and ask him? I consider myself to be a bit of a busker - still learning and loving it. Cheers, Ian
|
|
|
Post by ianlp59 on Oct 17, 2014 14:45:06 GMT
I've had this rather pleasant set of Madagascar rosewood put aside for a new project for next year... Cheers, Ian
|
|
|
Post by ianlp59 on Oct 10, 2014 11:22:12 GMT
My Romero came with a couple of spare Romero string sets they weight in at .11 .13 .15 .24 .11
I currently have a set of Elixir mediums on it : .10 .12 .16 .23 .10
The banjo sounds great with either...
Cheers,
Ian
|
|
|
Post by ianlp59 on Sept 24, 2014 8:30:06 GMT
I have a Ramirez 1a, built in 1982. Its soundboard is Western Red Cedar... Cheers, Ian Ian would it be possible to ask who's initials are inside your Ramirez? I've heard some of the old Ramirez guitars are incredible. Mine is serial no 16355. Amalia Ramirez told me that it was built by Fernando Morcuende de cruz, a disciple of Jose Ramirez III... It's a very nice guitar...
|
|
|
Post by ianlp59 on Sept 23, 2014 15:33:01 GMT
I have a Ramirez 1a, built in 1982. Its soundboard is Western Red Cedar...
Cheers,
Ian
|
|
|
Post by ianlp59 on Aug 11, 2014 13:58:12 GMT
Interesting. I had read somewhere that Martin Simpson swapped out the .13 for a .14, but this is obviously not the case. Martin uses mediums with a .15 on the first string. However, he recently did some gigs with Dom Flemons and actually played in standard tuning using lights on one of his PRS guitars. Martin was at our place a week or ago for the annual family summer visit and he gave me the PRS with light strings on to try out. It was surprising playable tuned down to various G and C modal tunings although it did feel a bit strange, particularly with the.012 1st string turned down to D. And slide playing would not have worked that well with lighter strings. Personally, I use mediums on most of my guitars with a .15 on those that I play slide guitar on. I use lights for my two Collings guitars because they have pyramid bridges with a correspondingly smaller footprint on the soundboard. Cheers, Ian
|
|
|
Post by ianlp59 on May 21, 2014 14:21:23 GMT
I stumbled across Ted's website a few months ago and am very taken with his work, the details of which, in some cases, bear a close resemblance to others of the Somogyi school - think Ray Kraut, Jason Kostal, Gustav Freddel et al. I'd love to get up close and personal with one or several of his guitars. Maybe a long weekend trip to Stockholm is in order ...
It is also true to say the Martin Tallström is a really great player and arranger, one of my favourite players out there...
Cheers,
Ian
|
|
|
Post by ianlp59 on May 2, 2014 11:49:04 GMT
I'll be there...I'll bring the Romero as well Cheers, Ian
|
|
|
Post by ianlp59 on Feb 28, 2014 16:30:43 GMT
Enjoy the journey ! Martin uses a variety of altered tunings, all of which are modal tunings. Very occasionally he has used open G, mainly for slide stuff. His most common tunings are : CGDGCD - G Sus 4/4 - Orkney tuning DGDGCD - G Sus 4 DADGAD - D sus 4 CGCGCD - C Sus 2 CGCFCD - C Sus 4 add 9 If you are interested in Martin's stuff and the tunings and arrangements he comes up with then I would strongly suggest considering attending one of his weekend workshops up in Sheffield. This year's April workshop is full but he intends to hold another weekend workshop later in the year in November (21st,22nd & 23rd). Also, there are tabs for a lot of his stuff available (for sale) on his website Martin Simpson as well as details of his workshops. The workshop weekends are a blast, worth it just to see Martin play close up and personal for the weekend. Friday and Saturday nights comprise of mixing with other attendees and swapping tunes and jamming and so on. Every attendee gets a workshop cookbook to take away with them with a lot of valuable material on the tunings and associated theory covered during the weekend. You can also request some free tabs (from yours truly) which I e-mail out. Cheers, Ian
|
|
|
Post by ianlp59 on Feb 17, 2014 12:20:53 GMT
I got this instrument on Friday last week. Here are some pics : About to open the package : Pulling out the protective packaging material - Mrs ianLP59 managed to capture an arty shot here : Et voila - le banjo... Full frontal... Fingerboard detail... Headstock... Back of headstock and tuners... Rim and head - note the bronzed finish which makes it look like it's been re-claimed from the sea... Rim close up... Neck joint detail - note the bird's eye maple... OK, that's it for now. I should add that this banjo sounds really sweet and I'm very happy with it. Cheers, Ian
|
|
|
Post by ianlp59 on Feb 14, 2014 15:19:16 GMT
OK, I have it. I collected it from the local Parcelforce depot just before lunch today. Duty and taxes were a fair bit less than I'd calculated owing to the declared carriage value that Jason put on it - so I'm very happy indeed. A stunning instrument, the bird's eye maple neck and fingerboard are beautiful and the aged bronze finish on the rim is amazing. The tone of this banjo is fantastic, quite the sweetest sounding banjo I've ever heard with a sustain that rings out forever. Pictures to follow, I'm supposed to be at work at the moment...
Cheers,
Ian
|
|